Evaluation of autonomies in the severely brain injured: the Progression of Autonomies Scale.

The aim of this study was to validate the Progression of Autonomies Scale (PAS) for the evaluation of autonomies in severe acquired brain injury patients. The PAS design is based on a model of progressive recovery of autonomies and is organized in three domains (Personal, Domestic and Extra-domestic). Scores assigned range from zero to three. The PAS items gather information about the patient's perception and awareness of his/her disability(ies) on admission and perception of his/her improvement at the end of a rehabilitation process. The PAS was administered to 127 inpatients on admission to and at discharge from a rehabilitation program. All 127 inpatients, recruited in a prospective multicenter study, completed the rehabilitation program. The statistical analysis identified a total of 38 items to be retained in the PAS, out of an initial 82 items. The results provide evidence of the validity and reliability of the PAS in its final version.